[ Who said anything about protecting believers... it's more what protects the church in the Imperial Capitol, but as he didn't clarify, and sees no reason to do so, it won't come up that he sees this one God as jealous about letting any other Gods into His territory.

Instead, with that encouragement, he feels torn between taking the praise and looking for an insult... but it's not in his nature to assume the worst, and so he smiles, rubbing the back of his neck in mild embarrassment. He can see how imperfect it is, and far from being up on the ideal of imperfections being part of an artform, it's more like failing to have lived up to an expectation. Next time! Next time he randomly needs to tie a knot out of ribbons around a tree, he'll get it right! ]

Doesn't mean it looks so good. But it's fancier than a plain knot, so... here's to being fancy friends?

[ ... that makes no sense. He groans as he says it, stomach rumbling, and he rubs his face and shoots Shi Qingxuan a sheepish look. ]

Or maybe food friends? I haven't eaten well the last few days.

[ He makes to start climbing down, his hand coming to rest on top of Shi Qingxuan's foot on accident. He tries to pull his hand away but instead finds..................... it's firmly stuck there? He tries to pull away again, and it's obvious he's leaning away, but his hand just. Stays there. ]

What the—